SAF 2024

December 11, 2024
Three women pose for a selfie in a meeting room.
Alumna Lauren Thompson (left) and Professor Ingrid Schneider (right) pose with Melody Starya Mobley, the first Black woman forester with the USDA Forest Service, at the Women in Natural Resources Meetup at the 2024 SAF Convening. Photo by Ingrid Schneider.

Our annual convening with forestry colleagues at the SAF National Convention was a big hit this year. Eighteen members of our community, including students (four of whom were sponsored by our department and two by the UMN Forestry Club), faculty, and researchers, flew down to Loveland, Colorado, to participate in and listen to discussions, present research posters, and network, network, network.

Recent FNRM alumna Lauren Thompson and ESPM senior Emma Ihlenfeld were also in attendance through the SAF Student Diversity Scholar program. This competitive program, which only accepts 20 students across the nation every year, “aims to empower students from underrepresented groups in forestry and natural resources to help them navigate, grow, and thrive in the profession,” says SAF. Members of this elite cohort are paired with mentors who align with their career goals; develop leadership and networking skills; cultivate community; and also earn SAF membership for the year. It is a huge honor to have two of our students accepted into this program.

Three people stand with their arms around each other under an outdoor tent.
Interim Forest Resources Department Head Kristen Nelson (left) poses with alumni at the UMN Alumni Social. Photo by Ingrid Schneider.

One of our biggest highlights of the convening was our Alumni Social, where we had a chance to bring together generations of forestry professionals. Thank you to everyone who was there! You all are a valuable part of our community.

~ This article is part of the Fall 2024 Forest Scene newsletter (Issue 32). Access additional articles in the table of contents that follows the image description. 

Image descriptions:

  • Image 1: Three light-skinned people stand smiling with their arms around each other near an event tent. At left is a woman with shoulder-length light brown hair. In the center is an older gentleman with a maroon winter cap and black-rimmed glasses. At right is an older man in a maroon CFANS bucket hat. All three wear lanyards with badges around their necks.
  • Image 2: A selfie of three women. At left is a young woman with medium-light skin, dark curly hair, and a septum piercing. At center is an older dark-skinned woman with short gray hair, dark red lipstick, and a black-and-white patterned shirt. At right is a middle-aged  light-skinned woman with blond hair. Everyone wears a lanyard with a badge and smiles broadly.
Cover of Forest Scene Issue 32, Fall 2024.

The Forest Scene newsletter is published biannually in the spring and fall, featuring stories, research briefs, and updates from the Department of Forest Resources. 

Click the following links to read articles from the Fall 2024 edition of Forest Scene (Issue 32):